I. Sovereign Choice
A. Not What We Expect
B. Revealed in God’s Manner

II. Selfish Rejection
A. Of Faithful Obedience
B. By Selfish Plotting

III. Superintending Ways
A. In Spite of Deception
B. Because of His Wisdom

Questions for consideration: (1) How do you react to trials and hard Providences? In what way could the Lord grow you spiritually by them? (2) In what areas of your life to do you act as if you can deceive the Lord? How does this passage (and the account of the death and resurrection of Christ) help you to repent of that? (3) How does this passage give you hope today? For tomorrow?